Solar bath



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s. D. EVANS.

SOLAR BATH. No. 401,434. Patented July 23, 1889.

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SOLAR BATH.

No. 407,434. r Patente July 23,18

m VENTOR WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL DUNHAM EVANS, OF ASBURY PARK, NEIV JERSEY.

Y SOLAR: BATH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters-Patent No. 407,434, dated July 23,1889.

Application filed February 21, 1889. Serial No. 300,774. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,' SAMUEL DUNI-IAM EVANS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Asbury Park, in the county of Monmouth andState of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in SolarBaths, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for permitting therays of the sun or other source of light to be used for hygienic orremedial purposes; and-to this end the invention consists in theconstruction and arrangement of devices or appliances which will behereinafter fully described, and then set forth in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a solarbath constructed according to my invention, with the patient inposition. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bath box or cabinet, withthe top and front removed. Fig. 3 is a front view of the bath box orcabinet, also showing the front and top removed. Fig.4 is a detail viewof the glass front with reflector-wings. Fig. 5 is a detail view of thetop of the bath-box. Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the front of thebath-box adapted to receive interchangeable glasses. Fig. 7 is amodification showing a folding bath box or cabinet.

The reference-numeral 1 denotes a casing or box, which constitutes acabinet or receptacle in which a person can be placed in a nude state,in order to be exposed to the rays of the sun or other source or bodyfrom whichirays of light and heat emanate.

The bath box or cabinet is formed of vertical walls or panels of wood ormetal, and has a bot-tom or floor A and a detachable top 2. Casters 3are provided to facilitate the shifting of the cabinet. The front of thelatter is formed of a detachable frame 4, in which a glass panel 5 isplaced. -This frame 4 rests upon inclined bars 6 at the front of thebath box or cabinet, and it is retained in position by means of hooks 7,engaging suitable eyes 8, or by any other suitable or approved fasteningdevices. To the sides of the detachable frame 4 are hinged smallerframes or wings 9, in which are placed sheets of looking-glass orburnished metal 10. These surfaces 10 act as reflectors for increasingor intensifying the light passing through the glass front 5, or throughthe front opening when it is deemed advisable to remove the glass. Thesaid reflector-wings, hinged to the frame 4, as shown at 11 in Fig. 1,also act as doors or screens,

since they can be turned over upon or against the glass front 5, therebyshielding the bather from view while being adjusted to the sun or otherlight rays.

It is sometimes advisable to use glass panels 5 of different colors, andin order to facilitate the interchangeable use of such different glassesthe latter are fitted in small frames 12, which can be slipped intogrooves in the frame4, as is shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

The detachable top 2 of the bath box or cabinet has an aperture 13,through which the head of the bather protrudes when in the apparatus.The said opening is fitted with rubber cloth 14 or other appropriatematerial, provided with a shir-string 15, thereby enabling the operatorto fit or adjust the said material snugly around the neck of the batherwith a view to preventing the escape of the heat generated in theinterior of the bath box or cabinet.

Athermometer 16 is fitted in the wall of the bath box or cabinet for thepurpose of enabling the temperature of the interior to be determined, itbeing obvious that the back of the thermometer bulb and tube should bein direct communication with the interior of the bath-box.

In the type of apparatus shown in the drawin gs the person receiving asun-bath sits upon a chair in the interior of the bath box or cabinet,and the rays of the sun or other lightrays pass through the glass front5, or through the front opening when such glass is dispensed with.

Ordinarily it is desirable to use a glass front,

because then the heat evolved in the interior of the bath box or cabinetwill act ,mostbeneficially upon the patient. I also contemplate in someinstances to supplement the action of the sun by heat obtained from aspirit-lamp or other artificial source of heat placed inside the bathbox or cabinet. By such provision a very desirable sweat-bath can begiven to the patient.

In Fig. '7 of the drawings I have shown a foldin g bath box or cabinet,which is composed of suitable plates or panels hinged together, as shownat 17. In this construction the bottom A is also detachable, so thatwhen the front and bottom and top are removed all the parts can bepacked together so as to facilitate storage and transportation. While Ihave shown in the drawings an apparatus in which the bather assumes asitting position, it is obvious that without departing from the spiritof my invention slight structural changes enable me to provide anapparatus in which the patient is in a recumbent position. Many in-Yalids are too weak to sit upright, and hence in the horizontal form ofapparatus a Wire or rubber mattress is provided, upon which the patientcan lie at full length.

Having thus described my invention, What I SAMUEL DUNHAM EVANS.

Vitnesses:

SIDNEY T. HAMPTON, l\'lILTON HOLMES.

